Billionaires Runaway Bride

“I did.” I glanced down at my sandwich and picked at the lettuce sticking out of the sides. It was a little frightening to realize that he had the power to make me feel good or leave me feeling like shit. “It was fine. No work talk, right?”

He chuckled, but the sound fell flat. “Exactly. So what about the houses?”

“Nothing to report just yet, but it’s still early in the process.” I glanced up and forced myself to chill out. I was there to help and support him, just like he’d done for me when Harry turned my world upside down.

“I see.” He leaned back and glanced up at the sky. “The weather is holding up nicely here. I thought we might have rain, but it’s been beautiful.”

The weather? We were talking about the weather? Something I did or said shifted the mood drastically. Excellent. Date night ruined.

Fuck my life.

*

“That was fun.” Alfie ran his strong hands over my shoulders and down my exposed arms. “It was good just being with you.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry I ruined it by bringing up the meeting.” I shrugged and kept my tone neutral.

“What? No. You didn’t.” He cupped my face and leaned down to kiss me a few times. Just soft pecks on my lips. Nothing to write home about. “It’s me. I’m just weary after this long week, and the U.S. investors always make me feel like they’re just waiting for me to fall on my ass. My father was brilliant all the way around, and most of these guys are old friends of his from school or business. I don’t think they much enjoy having to work with a young buck like myself.”

“I understand.” I lifted up and kissed him once more before pulling back. “I know you’re staying with Logan, so I’ll not ask to come with you.” I glanced over my shoulder at the door as a longing rose within me. “And I’m with Peyton. It would be rude to—”

“Molly.”

I turned back to face him as his expression grew serious. “What?”

“Everything is fine, okay? I’m just a little stressed.” He pulled me into his arms and held me tightly. “I’ll get us a hotel Friday night, and we can spend the night together. That sound good?”

“Absolutely.” I pressed my hands to his thick chest and looked up into his eyes. My guy was still there. Maybe it was pressure. “Good luck on everything. I’ll be thinking about you.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” He leaned down and kissed me so passionately, it almost knocked me off my feet.

I pulled back breathlessly. “Friday, then.”

“Yeah, and get a nap that day if you can. I plan on keeping you up all night long.” He nipped at my lips and pulled back. “Enjoy the rest of your week and call if you need me.”

“Thanks,” I said and turned to walk into the house.

Peyton jerked back from the living room window. “I wasn’t watching. Promise.”

I snorted. “Liar.”

“All right. Forgive me. I need to vicariously live through someone.” She let out a girly sigh and walked to the kitchen. “I just finished baking an apple pie. You want a slice?”

“Do you have vanilla ice cream?” I followed her, not quite sure of how I felt about everything.

“Do bears shit in the woods?” she opened the freezer, pulled out a half-gallon, and tossed it my way.

“No clue. I’ve never seen a bear or its shit.” I caught it and grabbed a few spoons before sitting down at her dining room table.

“You’re so practical.” She laughed and sat down across from me with the pie and plates. “So? How was the dinner?”

“It was good.” I started to dish up the dessert as if it were my house. I had always been the bossier of the two of us. “I fucked it up by asking about the marketing stuff, but who knew he would be sensitive about it?”

She lifted an eyebrow. “What? How did that fuck up the date? Did he use your idea in his meeting?”

“Yeah. I think so.” I shrugged. “He got really weird about it when I asked.”

“That’s weird.” She pulled her plate close and picked up her spoon. “Did he give you credit for the idea with the investors?”